Most students can’t wait until they are eligible to try out for sports, cheerleading or band. For the students at Vic A. Pitre Elementary School, they can’t wait to get to fourth grade to apply for a position on the school newspaper.

The Vic A. Pitre School newspaper staff is composed of fourth- and fifth-graders.

The newspaper staff consists of fourth- and fifth-graders, working under the direction of English teachers Chris Scarnati and Jamie Chesterman.

Scarnati is the newspaper adviser and Chesterman is the online adviser, posting stories online and archiving the newspaper to the school district site, pitre.jppss.k12.la.us/pitre/.

This is one of the few schools in the area with an elementary school newspaper. The students create a six-page product and are responsible for brainstorming ideas, interviewing, writing and editing.

“They come up with ideas that I haven’t thought about,” Scarnati said.

Chestman said, “They come up with the majority of the ideas, and I am really amazed at the things they come in with.”

Scarnati said the newspaper is created by using Microsoft Publisher. It contains a news section, entertainment section, sports section and calendar. In addition to stories and columns, it also contains surveys and a cartoon.

“I try my best to make the experience authentic,” Scarnati said.

Scarnati, who teaches fourth-grade English, has a journalism background. Before teaching, he worked eight years as a sports editor and columnist. He covers boxing for The Times-Picayune and does freelance for SportsIllustrated.com and Maxim.com.

“I try to share my passion for the written word with my staff of young scribes,” Scarnati said.

He said he shares his stories with the students. “I see their eyes light up when I’m talking about sports.”

The paper originated in 2009, when Scarnati suggested a student section in the school newsletter, and the idea evolved into a student newspaper. The newspaper debuted Oct. 1, 2009.

Scarnati said that the students take pride in the newspaper. They wear their press passes proudly when they need to do an interview during school hours.

“We watch a group of young scribes rushing to a deadline to see who gets published,” he said.

The students are getting an introduction to the newspaper business and learning about the “power of the press.”

Not only are they learning about the newspaper, but they are developing as young people.

“It is really good for the kids, as we can see their personality emerge,” Chesterman said. “I enjoy watching the kids grow.”

The benefit of being a part of the newspaper is that their reading and writing skills improve through the year.

“It’s a kick for me to see them so excited,” Chesterman said.

Scarnati wants to demonstrate to the students the importance of the newspaper.